Posted by noa on February 18, 2003, at 12:19:31
In reply to Thanks for encouragement folks..other questions., posted by JohnV on February 18, 2003, at 1:00:24
Well, you don't have to decide the exact setting yet, of where you would work. Take one step at a time.
It seems the high stress jobs pay better, yes? If you try out that setting--like child protective services--as an internship, you'll get a taste of it and how the stress affects you. It sounds like the nature of the work itself is high stress, but I would think it also makes a big difference how the organization is run--your caseload size, bureaucratic issues, paperwork, how much superivision and support you would get, how much in-service training you'd get, how decisions are made, etc.etc. I am sure some organizations are better at these things than others and I imagine that makes a huge difference in the experience of doing that kind of work. Maybe you can ask for an informational interview to learn more about that branch of social services, or even if you can shadow someone for a day.
Money is important--it is true. You need enough to live on. As long as you can earn a livable wage, even if very modest, and if Social Work is what you really feel is right for you, then I say go for it. Your salary in the first years (unless you go into one of the high-stress jobs) might be very modest, but I'm sure it will improve somewhat with experience, no? If you can tolerate the idea that your earnings might always be relatively modest and you'll have to make some hard economic choices, and the profession is what fits you best, that is far better than going into a profession that you aren't interested just because earnings would be better. Also, you've had a lot of support from your parents, so I wonder if they can continue to help you out until you get more settled? Seeing a financial planner at some point could help, too.
It is funny---when I read my alumni magazine, full of all these very high powered people who went right to law school or business school or medical school, or right into lucrative jobs, now, as we get older, some of them have written in that they have changed careers--like from business exec. to teacher, or attorney to social worker, etc. because they find the new career option more meaningful to them.
poster:noa
thread:201074
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20030215/msgs/201510.html